Pastors it has begun

[Jedi Knight]

I say every Pastor here in Houston should preach a series on the sin of homosexuality and rather than draw back they should lean into it......what an opportunity!

 

[Salty]

In NY State for a church to be exempt from sales tax, you must complete an application.

 

[DMorgan]

I would love to hear Joel Osteens views on this issue!



Tax exemption has nothing to do with it.
Even churches with tax exemption must follow city ordinances - ie building codes, fire codes, zoning, ADA, and ect....

Please correct me if I am wrong, but did not govco use tax exempt status as a weapon against Pastors who denounced certain candidates in their Sermons? And did not the DOJ recently approve of the monitoring of Churches who were deemed to be crossing the line when it comes to Preaching against certain candidates due to their support of sin? This is where tax exempt status allows the govco to meddle in the affairs of the Church.

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/bri...stors-advocate-political-speech-rights-church

 

[annsni]

I say that we make this easy and no longer have men's or ladies' restrooms. Instead label them XX and XY. Period.

 

[Salty]

... This is where tax exempt status allows the govco to meddle in the affairs of the Church. ...

Not only the church, but any non-profit.
For example, the Red Cross would not be permitted to endorse political candidates.

 

[Rolfe]

I say that we make this easy and no longer have men's or ladies' restrooms. Instead label them XX and XY. Period.

Good idea, but it will probably lead to gender confusion where there was none.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

I would love to hear Joel Osteens views on this issue!



Tax exemption has nothing to do with it.
Even churches with tax exemption must follow city ordinances - ie building codes, fire codes, zoning, ADA, and ect....

The problem is that this, clearly, is an illegal ordinance.

If it were me, I'd tell them that if they want to know what I'm preaching, just show up on Sunday, where I'd preach a barn burner on homosexuality and call out the mayor to repent.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

I think you are wrong here. If you are part of some type of convention, you may be covered under their 501c3, but I don't think it is automatic.

No, actually, he's right. My wife is a forensic accountant and when we founded our church a couple of years ago, she and our attorney gave a presentation about why 501(c)3 status isn't necessary.

And, anyway, under the 1st, 4th, and 5th Amendments, the government has no legal right to demand that you show them anything.

It is "automatic". That's why the IRS has never tried to take a church's 501(c)3 status away. They'd rather hang that over a church's head and make them afraid to speak, than to go to court and let churches find out that the whole thing is a scam.

 

[evangelist6589]

Officials with the city of Houston, Texas, who are defending a controversial ordinance that would allow men to use women’s restrooms now have demanded to see the sermons preached by several area pastors.

The recent move came in a subpoena from the city to pastors for copies of their sermons and other communications in the city’s legal defense of a “non-discrimination” measure that allows “gender-confused” people to use public restrooms designated for the opposite sex.

A lawsuit challenging Houston’s move alleges the city violated its own charter in its adoption of the Equal Rights Ordinance, which in May designated homosexuals and transgender persons as a protected class.


Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2014/10/major-u-s-city-demands-oversight-of-sermons/#ugbDBBAbd91XRtws.99

I sent the mayor an email. Those in Houston should also send letters. Eventually they will filter down to the open air preachers.

 

[evangelist6589]

I say every Pastor here in Houston should preach a series on the sin of homosexuality and rather than draw back they should lean into it......what an opportunity!

Yes a good idea. Also send the mayor letters in the mail.

 

[Judith]

This is silly.

The Pastors should now file a discrimination lawsuit because Houston officials aren't subpoenaing the "sermons" from mosques.

That would be an unwise way to proceed.

 

[InTheLight]

That would be an unwise way to proceed.

Uh, no, that is a very smart way to proceed. If the city only subpoenas evangelical Christian pastors preaching against homosexuality, the new Houston "bathroom law" and ignores Muslims preaching against the same things, that is discrimination. Houston officials cannot claim to be for equal rights and then go about enforcing things unequally.

 

[Revmitchell]

It is a dumb way to proceed. We do not evne need to entertain the idea that these supeona's are legitimate and we should fight them even being sent out no matter who they are too and about. Once you have started arguing that they did not send out supeona's to someone else you have just conceded that the supeona's are legitimate.

They are not.

 

[InTheLight]

It is a dumb way to proceed. We do not evne need to entertain the idea that these supeona's are legitimate and we should fight them even being sent out no matter who they are too and about. Once you have started arguing that they did not send out supeona's to someone else you have just conceded that the supeona's are legitimate.

They are not.

OK, if you get subpoenaed, just ignore it claiming it is not legit. See how far you get with that argument.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

OK, if you get subpoenaed, just ignore it claiming it is not legit. See how far you get with that argument.

That's exactly what I'd do. This is something I'd be more than happy to go to jail for.

This sets a stunningly bad precedent. We are not the Soviet Union (yet) and should not pretend that Soviet-style actions are OK.

 

[Revmitchell]

OK, if you get subpoenaed, just ignore it claiming it is not legit. See how far you get with that argument.

I didn't say that. Lately you are just looking to read into othes posts whatever you want.

 

[DMorgan]

That's exactly what I'd do. This is something I'd be more than happy to go to jail for.

This sets a stunningly bad precedent. We are not the Soviet Union (yet) and should not pretend that Soviet-style actions are OK.

It is not just the former USSR. Many western European nations as well as Canada have passed laws which classify and restrict "hate" speech. These laws are being used to silence Preachers. And considering the progressive judiciary we have in this country now, i do not doubt the same will happen here. Secularism is the new religion.

 

[gigabyte71]

It is a dumb way to proceed. We do not evne need to entertain the idea that these supeona's are legitimate and we should fight them even being sent out no matter who they are too and about. Once you have started arguing that they did not send out supeona's to someone else you have just conceded that the supeona's are legitimate.

They are not.

I agree with you, but this is going to be extremely costly to the tax payers and the churches. This could eventually end in the lap of SCOTUS.

 

[Revmitchell]

I agree with you, but this is going to be extremely costly to the tax payers and the churches. This could eventually end in the lap of SCOTUS.

I don't think we know that yet. I believe that this is so unconstiutional that it will not go very far until it gets slapped down. I can also tell you that those pastors are ready to go to jail over this. They are not going to comply with the supeona's. And neither would I.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

It is not just the former USSR. Many western European nations as well as Canada have passed laws which classify and restrict "hate" speech. These laws are being used to silence Preachers. And considering the progressive judiciary we have in this country now, i do not doubt the same will happen here. Secularism is the new religion.

Of course. You know it's coming. Christians are being marginalized at every turn.

And you're right. It isn't only the Soviet Union. Tony Miano has been arrested in England twice for preaching the Gospel.